The Detroit Tigers have not been to the postseason since 2014, when they won their most recent AL Central title.
However, they may be on a different path this year.
After a 2-9 start, the team responded by going 17-12.
Since April 13, only four teams across Major League Baseball have better records than the Tigers.
Detroit has come to within 3.5 games of first place in the AL Central.
They now own a 19-21 record and are close behind the Minnesota Twins.
On Wednesday, Tigers manager A.J. Hinch stopped by MLB Network to discuss his team’s recent hot stretch and what has been working for them since they turned things around.
Only four teams since April 13th have a better record across the majors than the @Tigers (17-12)!
A.J Hinch joined us on #MLBCentral to break down his club’s hot stretch ahead of first pitch against the Pirates at 1pm ET. pic.twitter.com/zXbAdQKSEk
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) May 17, 2023
Hinch was first asked about a moment earlier in the season when he was forced to bench Javier Baez for losing count of outs, and whether or not it lit a fire under Baez and the team.
The former World Series championship manager commented that there are always going to be moments when managers need to speak to their players, but that the ultimate goal is for players to buy in to what the team is trying to accomplish.
Hinch gave his team credit for being able to do that and turn things around after a tough start.
He also praised Baez for his leadership skills and how he has helped the team find new life.
Hinch expressed the importance of establishing good relationships with his players and building a culture that the players will ultimately buy into in order to create a winning environment.
NEXT:
The Tigers Have Made Some Drastic Improvements
